Lightning-arrester.



No. 894,518. PATENTED JULY 28, 1908. M. MILOH. LIGHTNING ARRESTER.

APPLIGATION FILED JAN.16,1907.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. I

MAURICE MILOH, OF NAGY B'ITTSE, AUSTRIA-HUNGARY, ASSIGNOR TO GENERALELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

LIGHTNING-ARRESTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 28, '1908.

To all whom it may concern:

' Be it known that I, MAURICE MILCH, a subject of the King of Hungary,residing at Nagy Bittse, Au stria-Hungary,'have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Lightning-Arresters, of which the following is aspecification; Y

This invention relates to an improvement in protective means forelectrical-conductors subjected to abnormal potential because oflightning or other atmospheric disturbances, or because of static,resonance, or other phenomena arising-in the transmission systems ofwhich the conductor is a part.

My invention includes an arran ement of conductors, such. as metalballs, dislis, or cylinders, in such a way that spark gaps are' formedbetween adjacent con uctors, and a discharge path thereby establishedbetween the conductor and ground or between two conductors of a system.These conductors are so disposed that the surface of one con 'ductor ispresented toward a conductor consisting in whole or in part of adifferent metal. I find that this difierence in the character of thearcing materials gives to an are playing therebetween, a resistance orcounter E. M. F

which is different for different directions of the current. The sparkgap may, in a certain sense, be termed an asymmetric conductor,permitting the flow of current in one (ll-1 This rectionmore readilythan in. the other. phenomenon is utilized in my present invention toinsure more certain interruption of the arc or'discharge current whenthe direction ofpotential across the gap. reverses.

-The metals brass or iron are suitable as materials for the opposingelectrodes in my improved lightningarrester, and the conducfication, Ihave tors may be of the cylindrical formheretofore used in the so-calledmulti-ga arresters. Although the conductors may be isposed to form but asingle asymmetric-path for the discharge, I may arrange two groups, oneto serve as a path for current flowing 111 one direction, and the secondgrou as a ath for- .the reverse current. from one group to the othermaterially as- This sh' ting 0 current sistsin extinguishing the are forreasons which will be apparent. Inthe drawin forming'a art of thisspeciustrated t v e invention only diagrammatically, and it should beunderstood that the roportion or size of the various parts mayv evaried, anl thatlthe numto correspond with the potential of the line orwith other requirements of service.

' Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation I conductor and ground; andFig. 2 is a similar arrangement disposed between line and me.

In Fig. 1, the line conductor 1, to be rotected, is connected directlwith a brass all or cylinder 2 and an iron all or cylinder 3. Adjacentto the brass ball is a composite ball or cylinder 4 having an ironsurface 5 adj acent to the brass conductor 2, and a brass surface 6 onthe opposite side. One or more other compositeconductors may be arrangedin this group, the number being proportional to the voltage of the line.minates in an iron conductor 7 connected directly to ground. This grouppresents a path in which brass conductors are always 0 posed to ironconductors in such a way t at current flowing from the line conductor toground must always pass from brass to non.

The second or arallel roup, terminating in iron ball 3 and rass ba 1 8,offers a similar path through which the current from the line must pass.from iron to brass. There are, therefore, two parallel paths open to theflow The group teri ber-of groups may be increased or diminishedofjeu'rrent from the line, one of these paths opposing a relatively highresistance or counter-electromotive force to the flow of energy,

and the other opposing a relatively low resistance orcounter-electromotive force. The result 1s.a rapid, if notlnstantaneous, interruption of the current flow when the poten"' I tiaof the line reverses in direction.

The arrangement shown in Fig. 2 is similar to thatof Fig. 1, except thatthe two groups of conductors are connected directly between the lineconductors .9 and 10. The

gaps are here shown as arranged horizontally, but the rectifying orasymmetric qualitiesof the two aths are the same as in the apparatus ofig. 1.

What I claim as new and desire tosecure ductors disposed in series withadjacent arcing surfaces of different material, to establish anasymmetric path for current flowing through said group.

3. A lightning arrester comprising a plurality of conductors disposed toform a plurality of spark gaps, the corresponding eon-.

ductors of each gap being of one material and the opposing conductors ofa different material.

4. The combination, W h a line conductor of a high voltage alternatingcurrent system subject to high potential charges, of a path to groundtherefor including a metal conductor, and an opposing conductorseparated therefrom to form an air gap, said conductors being ofdifferent metal.

5. In a lightning arrester, a group of conductors spaced apart to formair gaps, the

arcing surface on one side of said gaps being of one material and on theother side of a different material to permit the passage of cur rentmore easily in one direction than in the other, and a second group inparallel with said first group to permit the flow of current more easilyin the reverse direction.

(5. A lightning arrester in which a plu rality of brass surfaces areopposite a plurality of iron surfaces, to form air gaps offering lessresistance to the flow of current in one direction than in the other.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 29th day ofDecember, 1906.

MAURICE MILCH.

' l Vitnesses:

EUGENE HERRANY, CHARLES E. ZALTUN.

